Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all had a good week since I last did one of these, we’re into week six of lockdown here and I’m definitely feeling more than a little impatient and frustrated at still being cooped up. Of course I understand why it’s happening but it doesn’t make it any less difficult.
Anyway, as it’s Tuesday, I have another Top Ten Tuesday for you all, courtesy of Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week we’re talking about Books We Wish We’d Read As A Child. I read a lot as a kid, but of course there’s still so many books out there both that I missed at the time, and also that have come out since that I would have loved to have read. So here we go, Books I Wish I’d Read As A Child:
- The Golden Compass-Phillip Pullman
For some reason, I was very adamantly against reading Phillip Pullman’s books when I was a kid (I have absolutely no idea why) and so I never read the His Dark Materials series. I tried watching the TV series and it seemed pretty cool, but I didn’t really understand what was happening, and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I’d read the books. I have the first one, so I still might read them someday, but I wish I’d not written them off when I was a kid.
2. Coraline-Neil Gaiman
I recently read this one, and whilst I enjoyed it, I reckon I would have loved it so much more if I’d read it when I was a kid, it probably would have seemed a lot more scary to me when I was 8 or 9 than it did at 23!
3. White Boots-Noel Streatfeild
I really loved Noel Streatfeild’s books when I was a kid, but they were quite hard to find as most of them were out of print so I had to get them from second hand bookshops and I couldn’t find all of them. I would have loved to read this one as a kid as I really enjoyed ice skating, so I reckon I would have enjoyed this book.
4. How To Train Your Dragon-Cressida Cowell
I’ve watched the film of this and it was cute but I reckon these books would probably be a bit juvenile for me to read now. I actually don’t know why I missed this series when I was a kid, I loved dragons and the first book came out when I was about 7, but for whatever reason I never read them.
5. Swallows and Amazons-Arthur Ransome
Again, I’m not really sure why I never read these ones, my sister had them and I could have borrowed them but for some reason I was never all that interested. I’m not really sure why, pirate, kids going on adventures, it should have been something I really got into!
6. Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging-Louise Rennison
These books passed me by as a teenager, and I think my reading tastes have changed to much to really enjoy them now, but I really enjoyed the movie (cringey as it is) and I reckon if I’d read the books I would have enjoyed them.
7. War Horse-Michael Morpurgo
I did try Michael Morpurgo’s books when I was a kid and there was only one I was ever able to get into (Born To Run) but I wish I’d read this one. The stage show is absolutely beautiful, but I didn’t see it until I was 14 and by that point I wasn’t really interested in reading the book. Now I wish I had, because I reckon I would have enjoyed it.
8. The Hobbit-JRR Tolkein
Lord of The Rings never really interested me, and to be honest, it still doesn’t but I reckon the Hobbit might have been a bit more up my street. I don’t know why I never read it but I’m honestly not really sure Tolkein would be my thing now from what I’ve heard about his books, so I think I kind of missed the boat on this one.
9. My Friend Flicka-Mary O’Hara
I was massively into horse books when I was a kid but this one was never on my radar, I think just because it was on the older side and not easily available in bookshops. I really enjoyed the film and I reckon I would have really liked the book but I probably wouldn’t read it now.
10. Alanna: The First Adventure-Tamora Pierce
I’ve seen so many fantasy authors talk about Tamora Pierce and particularly this series, but it was first published way before I was born and I honestly don’t remember it being around when I was a kid. I think I’ve kind of missed the boat on when I would have really enjoyed this book, though I may still try it at some point.
Have you read any of these? Did you enjoy them? What books do you wish you’d read as a kid? Let me know in the comments!
I will be back next week with another Top Ten Tuesday, the topic is Top Ten Things We’d Have At Our Bookish Party, so I’ll be talking about Top Ten Fictional Characters I’d Have At My Bookish Party.
bookloversblog 
I wish I’d read The Golden Compass as a kid, too.
My TTT.
Seems like quite a few people did this week!
I definitely agree about Golden Compass!! I still need to read it. yikes! haha
My Top Ten
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Great list! His Dark Materials made my list this week, too, and I also wish I’d read The Hobbit and some Tamora Pierce when I was younger.
Thanks! I’ve seen His Dark Materials quite a lot this week, which surprised me as I honestly thought most people in the book community had read it 🙂
Oh, this is a top-notch list, so you’ll have to pardon my gushing, but this has been the best week ever on TTT and everyone is just bringing such interesting things to the table.
1. I have Noel Streatfeild on mine too, and I’ve kind of wistful about how many people have cool safely-scary memories of reading Coraline young. I think How to Train Your Dragon would have been fun if it had been around when I was a young kid, too.
2. I am forever baffled that Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging became the massive bestseller that it did. How! How did that one stand out from 8,000 other random fluffy teen books and stand the test of time. I have been baffled since it was nearly-new and I was the uptight teenager crossly offended by its crass title, and now I am much less offended by it, but still confused.
*deep breath* *half done*
3. I did love Mary O’Hara’s trilogy. I did a book report on My Friend Flicka in 5th or 6th grade — must have found it in the library — and was thrilled to find the sequels a few years later at a garage sale and a secondhand shop, respectively. They would actually be good ones to reread, it’s been so long. And while they’re certainly meant to be accessible to juvenile readers, I also feel like their overall tone/style lends itself well to older and even adult readers.
4. And OH, Michael Morpurgo. I do feel a bit too old for a lot of his, despite their awesome summaries, but I knew War Horse was older than it looked and had been a decent size in its original hardcover edition, so even though I didn’t read it until adulthood (when the movie announcement reminded me I’d seen it in the library once), I instantly loved it as much as Black Beauty.
—RS
Thanks! I definitely wish I’d been able to find more of her books because I really enjoyed the ones I did read. Yes, I really enjoyed Coraline, but I definitely didn’t find it as scary as I might have if I’d read it when I was young.
I guess a lot of people found it relatable? I mean I can’t say I really understand either as I haven’t read it!
I loved the film version, though apparently it’s very different? I’d definitely like to try it at some point. That’s good to hear that you really enjoyed War Horse, maybe I will try it at some point.
I loved How to Train Your Dragon, the films! Didn’t read the books and didn’t even know they were books. Great list, and thanks for visiting my TTT!
Thank you 🙂
Great list! I’ve read several of these as an adult, but some weren’t written when I was a kid, yet. Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors, so Coraline definitely would have been a favorite had it been out at the time.
Thanks! All of these were around when I was a kid, I just didn’t read any of them. I definitely need to try more of Neil Gaiman’s stuff, I’ve heard such great things.
Great list! I should have put Alanna on my list as well! Still need to read that one as well!
My post!
Thanks! Yeah I definitely feel like I need to catch up on some classic fantasy 🙂
I was into horse books too. So many Wild Stallion books. I think today it would be easier to find a lot of out of print books because there are online book shops like Alabris where you can get used books from thrift shops around the world.
Ooh I’ll have to try that site! I was so into horse books when I was a kid, I read so many!
I wish I would’ve read Coraline as kid too!! I love the movie, but I’m sure the book is way better!
It’s definitely a lot of fun!
I’ve never read Neil Gaiman. I liked the Hobbit as a kid and it actually held up pretty well for me on a recent re- read.
My Friend Flicka reminds me of the Black Stallion, which I thought was an amazing movie (haven’t read the book but I imagine it would be).
I’ve only read the one book of his, but I definitely think I’ll read more. That’s good to hear. Ooh I’ve always wanted to see that movie, I definitely need to try it sometime.
I’ve read 2 (I think) of the Dark Materials books and although I really wanted to like it, I just couldn’t click with the tv show either.
That’s fair enough, not all books are for everyone.
Oh nice! This topic was a struggle for me, hence my topic change! Lol. Great picks!
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
Fair enough! Thank you 🙂
I vaguely remember reading His Dark Materials, but I think I was a bit young because all I remember about it is that Younger Me thought it was confusing! 😂 I would probably enjoy them if I read them now though. I really enjoyed The Golden Compass movie and would like to read more in that world!
I AM SO UPSET I NEVER READ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON!!! 😭It’s exactly the kind of thing that I would have loved back then, I really like the movies though!
I’m torn on whether or not to read any Tolkein, because I love the movies (both the Hobbit and LOTR) but I’ve heard the books are hard to get through. Maybe I’ll just watch the movies again! 😂
Happy Reading! ❤
Hopefully older you finds it less confusing! Yes, I am as well, I would have loved it when I was a kid. Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing. That’s totally valid, I often watch films of books that I wouldn’t necessarily be interested in reading because I prefer different things in books to movies.
Great list! I wish I had read The Golden Compass as a kid too!
My TTT
Thanks!
Coraline is another one I read to my kids, but I probably would have also enjoyed as a child. It’s so memorable. Great list!
Thanks!
I hope you get to read His Dark Materials series soon as it’s so good and such a classic! However, if you can’t get into those I highly recommend The Book of Dust which is set in the same world but the audio book is narrated by Micheal Sheen (yes, THAT Micheal Sheen!!!)
My post: https://moonlitbooks.home.blog/2020/04/28/tttbooksiwishireadasachild/
I actually have The Book of Dust somewhere! I’d definitely like to, but the first book is in storage so I’ll have to wait until I’m able to access all my books again 🙂
I read The Golden Compass as a child and it was absolutely terrifying! Such a great story. The Hobbit is much better if you’re young, I think.
That’s good to hear!
I didn’t read these as a child or an adult. They all do sound like great reads for either age group.
Hopefully!
I want to read How to Train Your Dragon so badly–the movie is so fantastic!! Great list 🙂
Thanks!
Of these, I’ve only read The Hobbit – which I loved! However, I dislike the LoTR series. I think The Hobbit is just the perfect length.
I’ve seen the How To Train Your Dragon films (well, the first two) and love them – as well as Coraline, which is on my TBR.
Angus is one of those books I KIND OF read. I was always intrigued by it, but never bought it or checked it out from the library. I think by the time I was into it, I was a little old for it, or at least thought I was – seventeen I guess? I read bits and pieces of it in the library in high school. And I saw the TV movie once, I think.
Yeah, the Lord of The Rings series has always intimidated me with the sheer size of those books. Glad to hear you enjoyed The Hobbit. I saw the first one or maybe it was the second, I’m not sure? Either way it was fun. I saw the movie of Coraline ages ago, and I can’t quite remember if I liked it or not? The book was fun though. I’ve definitely had books like that too.
Gosh, Neil Gaiman. I adore some of his work and not others, but I wonder how different I would view his work if I had gotten into his writing when I was younger.
Coraline’s actually the only book of his I’ve read! I’ll probably try some of his others at some point, though I’m not really sure where to start…..
I’ve read all of these except the Tamora Pierce book. I have a little story about her. A friend asked me, knowing I was at a conference, to get a book signed by Pierce. I could not believe how long the line was. And I’d never heard of her.
Of course I still haven’t read her book!
Ha ha that’s amazing!
I would have loved to read How To Train Your Dragon as a kid!
Yes, it would have been so much fun!
Aah I have to try out The Hobbit and How To Train Your Dragon, the latter was always in the library when I was younger but I never checked its books out?
Thanks for stopping by my blog :).
I honestly never saw it around when I was a kid? I had no idea it was a thing till the movie came out!
Thanks for your visit to my page.
I have never read any of your books though my sons loved “The Golden Compass”, “How to Train Your Dragon” and “The Hobbit”.
I did a similar topic last year (Top Ten Books I wish I read as a kid). My TTT tthis week is an old one I missed (Books I’ll Never Read).
Ah glad your sons enjoyed them!
I loved horse books when I was a kid too. Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, and My Friend Flicka were all favorites of mine.
Black Beauty is actually the only one of those I’ve read, will definitely have to try the others at some point!
ah yes! Coraline! How to Train Your Dragon would have been a fun one to read as a kid, too!
Yes it would have been!
I didn’t even know The Golden Compass was a thing when I was a kid, but I think I would’ve loved it, too. My daughter loves Coraline, and while I liked it, I agree with you that I probably would’ve had a stronger reaction if I’d read it when I was younger.
I did, just for some reason was adamantly against reading Phillip Pullman’s books! Yeah I definitely think it’s the kind of book that is more scary when you’re young 🙂
Great list!
Thank you 🙂